TRIP PLANNING/LOGGING EXERCISE

[headborg]

Ok, here's one for you:

1) You're empty and starting from: Edwardsville, IL can start at 8pm on day#1. You have 2 hrs remaining on your 14hr clock( both of which can be driving)

The Trip:

Edwardsville, IL

Deadhead= 244

Load: Manteno, IL Day#2 6pm

235 miles to stop#1

Stop#1 Peosta, Ia Day#3 7am

195 miles to Final

Final: Ankeny, Ia Day#3 11am

Now, final perimeters-

1)as stated above- on day#1 you have 2 hours remaining before you must take a 10hr break.

2) you must wash out your trailer at a Blue Beacon Truck wash before arriving at shipper.

3) you must show "checking In" on duty not driving/ be at Shipper at 6pm on day#2 else it's a service failure.
customer does not have load finished loading until 9pm on day#2
you must leave customer's property with load at 9pm.

4) stop#1- customer takes exactly 45minutes to unload.


good luck!

p.s. let me know if you split your sleeper or not

[Walking Eagle]

You find, on the map, a truck stop before stop one and go off duty. Then you go 15 or 30 to load for 15 minutes. Then you have 15 loading then you go ???? to a truck stop just before your first stop. Then show 15 (?) to get to the stop, 15 unload then onto the last. Who logs washouts ?? No wonder newbie drivers don't make money !!!!!

[Double L]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

[Walking Eagle]

Obviously a total newbie, or ex union driver, that doesn't know how to work their log book !!

[Rawlco]

Lets see:
Drive 8pm to 10 pm day 1, park for 10 hours
Drive 8am to 10:30 am day 2 finding a wash out bay enroute.
Park at shipper 10:30 am to 8:30 pm getting 10 hour break
log 30 minutes load and pti 8:30 to 9pm
Arrive at stop 1 at 1 am and get some sleep or get unloaded early.
Unload at stop 1 6:45 to 7:30 am. (If they are late getting you unloaded the lateness of stop 2 is not your fault. If they are late take a full 8.5 (split sleeper) hours at stop 1 leaving at 9:30 am and deliver stop2 12:30 to 1pm)
Driving to stop 2 7:30 to 10:30 am
Unload at stop 2 10:30 to 11 am and take your break.

Yup it sucks but that is life in trucking. The next question is how much of this info are you going to have beforehand? I will admit that given only the load appt time and delivery times I would have blown it not leaving enough time for a full break at the shipper.

The alternate would be if you have already waited several hours to get this load info after getting empty. If say you got empty at 5pm on day 1 I would have completed my ten hour break getting started at 3 am heading for the shipper and getting the washout, arriving at the shipper by 8am.

[headborg]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

[headborg]

You find, on the map, a truck stop before stop one and go off duty. Then you go 15 or 30 to load for 15 minutes. Then you have 15 loading then you go ???? to a truck stop just before your first stop. Then show 15 (?) to get to the stop, 15 unload then onto the last. Who logs washouts ?? No wonder newbie drivers don't make money !!!!!

now you can't just log what you want--and make it "look" good-- you have to log legal--- and I told you "when" and exactly how many miles between the points-- and you obviously didn't actually work the math---

so you get 10 safety points and a 24hr shut down.

[headborg]

Lets see:
Drive 8pm to 10 pm day 1, park for 10 hours
Drive 8am to 10:30 am day 2 finding a wash out bay enroute.
Park at shipper 10:30 am to 8:30 pm getting 10 hour break
log 30 minutes load and pti 8:30 to 9pm
Arrive at stop 1 at 1 am and get some sleep or get unloaded early.
Unload at stop 1 6:45 to 7:30 am. (If they are late getting you unloaded the lateness of stop 2 is not your fault. If they are late take a full 8.5 (split sleeper) hours at stop 1 leaving at 9:30 am and deliver stop2 12:30 to 1pm)
Driving to stop 2 7:30 to 10:30 am
Unload at stop 2 10:30 to 11 am and take your break.

Yup it sucks but that is life in trucking. The next question is how much of this info are you going to have beforehand? I will admit that given only the load appt time and delivery times I would have blown it not leaving enough time for a full break at the shipper.

The alternate would be if you have already waited several hours to get this load info after getting empty. If say you got empty at 5pm on day 1 I would have completed my ten hour break getting started at 3 am heading for the shipper and getting the washout, arriving at the shipper by 8am.

Ok, this is better-- you put a little more thought in...

ok, which route did you take? and where did you find Truck parking at 10pm in route to shipper? you had a 244 mile deadhead..so you ended up somewhere?

driving the 8am to 10:30 am on day 2 looks great-- and is a good plan

the problem with parking at shipper from 10:30- 8:30 is You're not allowed to show OFF DUTY- when at a customer-- you can show IN Sleeper- but whenever you release your brakes- you've interruped that sleeper berth break. And you have to show 15minutes matching your Arrival Call and loaded call.

You can't show getting unloaded at stop#1-early- because you have a 7am appointment( and they don't actually arrive to unload you-- and they take exactly 45 minutes to unload you. you leave at exactly 7:45am -- you drive exactly 3hrs 15minutes(195miles) and arrive at final exactly at 10:45am.--- But that's a very good plan to get to stop as early as possible.


good job! 10:45am-9pm is a good break at shipper

[RebelDarlin]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Pontoon Beach
Granite City, IL
I-270 & SR 111, Exit 6B
By Flying J
618-931-2591

From http://www.bluebeacon.com/location_l...p?region=North

ANd next time you're in Manteno, stop & say Hi! :wink:

[headborg]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Pontoon Beach
Granite City, IL
I-270 & SR 111, Exit 6B
By Flying J
618-931-2591

From http://www.bluebeacon.com/location_l...p?region=North

ANd next time you're in Manteno, stop & say Hi! :wink:

kick ass-- I stand newly ENLIGHTENED---OK, KICK BUTT- But, now you can't drive a whole 2 hours-- on day#1-- lets say, 30minutes(logged off duty-of course) for that washout-- so you got 1.5hrs to get up the road toward RebelDarlin


P.S. any chance you'll be looking & ware that-- next time I get to Manteno?

[RebelDarlin]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Pontoon Beach
Granite City, IL
I-270 & SR 111, Exit 6B
By Flying J
618-931-2591

From http://www.bluebeacon.com/location_l...p?region=North

ANd next time you're in Manteno, stop & say Hi! :wink:

kick ass-- I stand newly ENLIGHTENED---OK, KICK BUTT- But, now you can't drive a whole 2 hours-- on day#1-- lets say, 30minutes(logged off duty-of course) for that washout-- so you got 1.5hrs to get up the road toward RebelDarlin


P.S. any chance you'll be looking & ware that-- next time I get to Manteno?

Never know what I'll be wearing. :wink: Seriously though I've given more drivers directions to Tyson, Sears, Nutri-Sweet and the Swift Terminal than I can count. If you've ever been to the Gas City West of 57 in Manteno, you've probably seen me, I worked there for 3 years. And if you're through here when I'm off work, I'll buy the coffee!

[headborg]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Pontoon Beach
Granite City, IL
I-270 & SR 111, Exit 6B
By Flying J
618-931-2591

From http://www.bluebeacon.com/location_l...p?region=North

ANd next time you're in Manteno, stop & say Hi! :wink:

kick ass-- I stand newly ENLIGHTENED---OK, KICK BUTT- But, now you can't drive a whole 2 hours-- on day#1-- lets say, 30minutes(logged off duty-of course) for that washout-- so you got 1.5hrs to get up the road toward RebelDarlin


P.S. any chance you'll be looking & ware that-- next time I get to Manteno?

Never know what I'll be wearing. :wink: Seriously though I've given more drivers directions to Tyson, Sears, Nutri-Sweet and the Swift Terminal than I can count. If you've ever been to the Gas City West of 57 in Manteno, you've probably seen me, I worked there for 3 years. And if you're through here when I'm off work, I'll buy the coffee!

Yeah, I know where that Gas City is-- about the only place around there with any truck parking(limited #)-- I was tempted to ditch it there for a "real' break- after waiting around 4-T's for 8hrs for that load that ran all night. So you still working there? Why buy coffee? how about I buy Dinner? You can do the driving(if you have the car).

[RebelDarlin]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Pontoon Beach
Granite City, IL
I-270 & SR 111, Exit 6B
By Flying J
618-931-2591

From http://www.bluebeacon.com/location_l...p?region=North

ANd next time you're in Manteno, stop & say Hi! :wink:

kick ass-- I stand newly ENLIGHTENED---OK, KICK BUTT- But, now you can't drive a whole 2 hours-- on day#1-- lets say, 30minutes(logged off duty-of course) for that washout-- so you got 1.5hrs to get up the road toward RebelDarlin


P.S. any chance you'll be looking & ware that-- next time I get to Manteno?

Never know what I'll be wearing. :wink: Seriously though I've given more drivers directions to Tyson, Sears, Nutri-Sweet and the Swift Terminal than I can count. If you've ever been to the Gas City West of 57 in Manteno, you've probably seen me, I worked there for 3 years. And if you're through here when I'm off work, I'll buy the coffee!

Yeah, I know where that Gas City is-- about the only place around there with any truck parking(limited #)-- I was tempted to ditch it there for a "real' break- after waiting around 4-T's for 8hrs for that load that ran all night. So you still working there? Why buy coffee? how about I buy Dinner? You can do the driving(if you have the car).

No truck parkin anywhere in town so Gas City is about it unless you stay at one of the warehouses. I haven't worked there since last August. Got my CDL and drive local. We'd have to drive, not much open in Manteno after 9pm. It's a sleepy little town. :sad:

Funny story about the Swift Terminal...I applied with Swift online and when they called me they told me the closest terminal was Indianapolis and I would have to go there for training. I asked why I wcouldn't work out of the Manteno Terminal and the recruiter told me they didn't have a terminal here. I told her that I could throw a rock to it from my house. She said she's check into that and I never heard back from her. Duh!

[headborg]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Pontoon Beach
Granite City, IL
I-270 & SR 111, Exit 6B
By Flying J
618-931-2591

From http://www.bluebeacon.com/location_l...p?region=North

ANd next time you're in Manteno, stop & say Hi! :wink:

kick ass-- I stand newly ENLIGHTENED---OK, KICK BUTT- But, now you can't drive a whole 2 hours-- on day#1-- lets say, 30minutes(logged off duty-of course) for that washout-- so you got 1.5hrs to get up the road toward RebelDarlin


P.S. any chance you'll be looking & ware that-- next time I get to Manteno?

Never know what I'll be wearing. :wink: Seriously though I've given more drivers directions to Tyson, Sears, Nutri-Sweet and the Swift Terminal than I can count. If you've ever been to the Gas City West of 57 in Manteno, you've probably seen me, I worked there for 3 years. And if you're through here when I'm off work, I'll buy the coffee!

Yeah, I know where that Gas City is-- about the only place around there with any truck parking(limited #)-- I was tempted to ditch it there for a "real' break- after waiting around 4-T's for 8hrs for that load that ran all night. So you still working there? Why buy coffee? how about I buy Dinner? You can do the driving(if you have the car).

No truck parkin anywhere in town so Gas City is about it unless you stay at one of the warehouses. I haven't worked there since last August. Got my CDL and drive local. We'd have to drive, not much open in Manteno after 9pm. It's a sleepy little town. :sad:

Funny story about the Swift Terminal...I applied with Swift online and when they called me they told me the closest terminal was Indianapolis and I would have to go there for training. I asked why I wcouldn't work out of the Manteno Terminal and the recruiter told me they didn't have a terminal here. I told her that I could throw a rock to it from my house. She said she's check into that and I never heard back from her. Duh!

Yeah, recruiter's are funny guys & gals-- they usually get paid "commission" for recruiting drivers for specific OTR & only for certain terminals & regions.... the JBHunt recruiters are the most worthless-- if you ever get on their "call list"-- it just mindlessly dials down this list-- and they set there and b.s. you-- they have radio ads telling about Dedicated Positions-- but when you tell em that's what you're interested in- they tell you they are only recruiting for OTR.

I'll pm you next time I'm heading up that way-- we can try to work something out... usually can drop my trailer at shipper & bob-tail out. But, are there any "ok" restraunts around there-- that allow bob-tail parking?

[Double L]

Since your in Edwardsville, there is a Blue Beacon/Speed Co across from the Flying J off of I-270 at exit 3.

Since when?


there is a blue beacon truckwash:

Effingham, Il

Bloomington, IL

Monee, IL

Since the beginning of the year!

[headborg]

thanks for the update!

[Rawlco]

So your company has the qualcomm report to them every time you disengage the parking brake? That seems excessive to me.

And what is this baloney about needing to log sleeper berth while at the shipper. Stupid company policy I presume? If I was stuck at the shipper I am going to want the flexibility to call it off duty and move the truck to a shady spot or something. Perhaps get something to eat. No way am I going to sit in my sleeper for 34 hours.

I usually send my empty/ arrive/ loaded check calls when it is convenient to my logbook, not at the instant it happens. They are also times when I get parked and have no sattelite service, so the arrive and loaded/depart calls get recorded at the same time when I leave. What do they do in that case?

Given the info that there was a blue beacon nearby I would have started my break then, getting the truck washed while on duty and gotten an early start in the morning. Still should have been able to arrive by 10:30 am.

[Walking Eagle]

When having to "Creative log" is needed a simple piece of aluminum foil is a great "helper" wrap it around the antena and you are in a dead zone Do what you need to do, log wise, then re appear after you leave.
Only had one company I leased my truck to that required a Qualcom be installed, that lasted about two weeks then Gosh Darn It thes vandals were I park kept cutting the wireing. I was only with them a month cuz they kepts screwing me anyway.
Log it legle while you are on the road then correct it when you stop for the night so you can start there in the morning

[Jumbo]

I assume that is why they make loose leaf log books. Don't like your day, just write a new one.

[bigtimba]

Yup it sucks but that is life in trucking. The next question is how much of this info are you going to have beforehand?

Good question. When I get a preplan I check 3 things . . where to, how many miles and how much time, then respond accordingly without much regard for the details.

Immediately upon receipt of the details I overlooked (like in the example)I find an excuse to call onroad and have the plan taken off me.

I once drove for a month with weak power steering just waiting for the lousy load I would use it to get out of.